From:
Barbara Carlson
Date: 2002-02-20 11:32:00 UTC
Subject: Re: Avecon tests
Alicia said:
> the false negatives from WA state were reported that pink smearing was
> present all over paper once droppered until dry - then the control line
> was present only-- According (mind you heresay again ) to Avecon the
> pink should not be showing all over the paper-- ALSO this is third hand
> reporting and ALL questions on the test and whether it was administered
> properly should be from AVECON themselves. There has been stated
> numerous times that the test is 95% accurrate - in this case reportedly
> (the magic word) all saliva tests were normal however when rechecked
> with blood 9 were positives---
It is my understanding that if you get pink smearing that the test is to be
done again. We used the instant tests a number of times over the last year
or so and early on did have some pink smearing cases which, when repeated
came out clear negatives (luckily) most of which were later verified
negative with a CEP or Eliza (mailin). We'd talked to Dr. Stefon (is that
spelled right?) and he changed some things and began recommending
withholding food for an hour before (although I've seen some people
recommend more than 1 hour).
Just this past TRFC meeting (Feb 17) we got some new Avecon instant tests
and used them. We had ferrets come in with food in their mouth and waited
just barely one hour (after removing the food) and the tests came out
beautiful, clear negatives with perfectly white backgrounds and a deep pink
line. The procedures are slightly different with this batch and the
collection swab is composed of something that looks more like a sponge than
a regular Q-tip. You swab for 1 minute like with the other tests, but in
this one you squish the swab in and out of the saline for *three* minutes
instead of the old 1 minute. The tests themselves look a little different,
too.
I like the new tests and think they should work well.
--Barb--